Page 20 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

18 The Gazette QARANC Association
Prevent TD EXERCISE ASKARI STORM
On 2 March, 2019, we deployed to Kenya to conduct the fourth and final iteration of the ‘Prevent Travellers’ Diarrhoea Trial’. The trial was double blinded and consisted of us recruiting the subjects from a battle group serving with 2 Rifles company and supporting units who had a very busy six week schedule deployed on EX ASKARI STORM. As such we needed to ensure their suitability. Once established we were responsible for taking a full medical history, blood samples and a pre- trial stool sample. These samples were processed on site by our BMS and sent to Portsmouth, America for further analysis. All subjects had to be recruited within the first 72 hours of arriving in the country and could withdraw consent at any time. The subjects were divided into three groups; one group was given a placebo drug, another was given the drug Rifaximin twice a day and the last cohort took one Rifaximin and one placebo. The subjects then proceeded with their duties whilst taking the medication and filling out their adherence and diarrhoea diaries.
During the weeks between recruiting the subjects and conducting final subject assessments, we were tasked with the job to upload all the data obtained onto the database to send back to America. The American military were the lead for trial along with our main point of contact in the UK, Major Dan Burns, who is a consultant in infectious diseases.
Fortunately, in our spare time we were able to get involved with charity work conducted by the battle group in a local school. The school was incredibly run down, therefore the battle group arranged new desks to be made and painted, walls and doors in the school to be renovated, climbing frames built and a new water container to be dug securely into the ground. We thoroughly enjoyed
The Prevent TD Trial closing team
Adventure training in Rift Valley
getting involved with this project. Another highlight of our experience was the opportunity to get involved with an adventure training package alongside the battle group and the supporting units deployed on this exercise. There were two packages we attended, incorporating team building activities including white water rafting, canoeing, mountain biking and rock climbing. We were able to adventure in some of the most beautiful areas of Kenya whilst learning about the local culture. But of course, no trip to Kenya is complete without a day on safari which
we organised through a local taxi man! Once the exercise was complete, the subjects returned for their final visits. Three doctors joined us for the final 10 days to assist with completing the trial and packing up the medical centre
Working hard completing charity work for a local school – making new desks
which we had been using as BATUK was heading on Easter leave. Once all the work was done, we enjoyed post- exercise activities with the battle group including a smoker BBQ and sport competitions. We thoroughly enjoyed the six weeks in Kenya conducting the trial and witnessing how an infantry battalion conducts itself when exercising abroad, as well as gaining an appreciation for all those needed to support them on exercise. This opportunity afforded us the opportunity to explore a different style of nursing that we never thought was available to us, along with gaining a wider appreciation of how the battle group were deployed and the intricacies of tracking them should they require any medical care.
Corporal Mills and Corporal Haffenden.
Charity work – painting and decorating
Exploring the countryside – which way is home?
Getting to know the locals